Position indicator for airplanes



March 5, 1940. M. F. MILLER 9 PQSIIION INDICATOR FOR AIRPLANES 7 FiledMay 15, 1939 I w i l I ,9;

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7 1 MM M m N W J' a /0 w 4% v n F via #5 INVENTOR. W 4 M//0 MM/efi BY tf Patented Mar. 5, 1940 warren stares PATENT OFFICE 11 (liaims.

This invention relates to markers particularly adapted for use inindicating the position of airplanes or other craft, that have beenincapacitated through a. wreck or forced landing, and the primary objectis to provide means of such character which is automatically broughtinto use when the craft encounters difiiculty ofsufficient magnitudetodisable the normal signaling devices carried by the craft and torelease the specially formed mechanism constituting a part of theposition indicator embodying this invention.

One of the important aims of this invention is the provision of aposition indicator for airplanes or the like, which comprises means forautomatically releasing a specially formed shell wherein is disposed aballoon and an anchor assembly, both of which combine to set up a signalabove the wrecked craft so that searchers may be guided to its location.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indicator of theaforementioned type that has means for coloring an area of theterritoryadjacent to the distressed craft, immediately after theposition indicator has been brought into play so that searchers may bedirected to the location of a disabled airplane, by observing thecontrasting color that has been sprayed upon the ground, trees orvegetation. close to where the indicator first left its place in thebody of the craft.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a position indicator forairplanes wherein is included unique means for automatically ejectingcertain parts of the indicator from the normal position when excessivejars are imparted to parts of the craft carrying the same; to provide aspecially formed, inflatable balloon which will be filled with gasimmediately afterthe shell of the indicator is ejected from the housing;and to provide positively acting elements for spraying a supply ofcolored liquid over large areas of the territory adjacent to the placewhere the specially formed shell of the indicator was 'projected fromits housing.

An'even further important object of this invention is the provision of aposition indicator for airplanes or crafts, wherein such devices aredesirable that is especially light, compact, durable and capable ofbeing instantaneously brought into play when the airplane is forced toland or when a destructive jar is imparted to the body of the craftequipped with the indicator.

Other objects of the invention, including speciflc ways of embodying theconcepts thereon in Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the 1gindicator taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 1.

When installing the indicator, its longitudinal axis should be in avertical position so that shell 5 may be projected upwardly withsufiicient force to move the same an appreciable distance above theequipped craft.

Shell 6 is cylindrical and open at both ends. The upper end, however,should be closed by an easily removable cap 8 so that as the balloonIll, immediately therebelow, is inflated, it will be lifted from placeto allow the balloon to extend outwardly from the upper end of shell 6.

A housing i2 should be rigidly carried by a part of the ship or craftnot here shown. This housing is appreciably greater in diameter thanshell 5 along the portion thereof circumscribing said shell when theindicator is in the normal position.

An upper section it mounted upon housing i2 through the medium of screwthreads or the like It, presents an upwardly and inwardly inclined wallit against the inner angular face of which, heads 26 and 22 of button2:3 and punch 26 re:- spectively, engage when shell 6 is projected.

Balloon H3, when deflated, is disposed adjacent the upper end of shell 6and folded in place with a gas tank 28 entirely confined therein. Thistank 28 has a partition 39 which is provided with a small port 32through which the gas in tank 28 escapes when pick 36 has pierced wall36. Pick 36 is provided with a head 3%, and a spring it normallymaintains pick 36 in the position shown in Fig. l with its point spacedaway from wall 36. One end of spring 68 is secured to the outer face ofwall 36 and the other end thereof is attached to head 3%, thus pick 33is mounted on tank 28 and cannot escape into the balloon it].

Button 26 is slidably carried in hole 2 formed in shell opposite to head85 on pick. it. This button 26 may move in to compress spring 3% whenshell ii is ejected from housing iii. Tani:

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weighted as at 52 to permit the action of gravity 'to unwind cable 48immediately after shell 8 is moved from within housing I2.

Spaced apart partitions 54 and 58 set oflf a compartment 58 in shell 8.This compartment is in communication in pipe 82 to form an ejectornozzle, the end of which is in window 84 normally covered by a lightmembrane 88. A compressed air tank 88 is positioned within compartment58 and like gas tank 28, is arranged to have the air thereinautomatically released into compartment 58 when punch 28 has piercedrelatively thin wall I8 of tank 88.

A partition I2 in tank 88 has a small port I4 therethrough to allow theescape of compressed air in a gradual, even manner. Head 22 of punch 28extends outwardly through hole 18 in the wall of shell 8 where it may beengaged and forced inwardly by the inclined portion I8 of section. Aspring 18 maintains punch '28 in the normal position away from wall I oftank 88.

A reservoir 88 containing colored liquid 82 is carried in shell 8between anchor 44 and chamber 58. Pipe 82 is in communication withreservoir 88.. The liquid 82 should be of a substance which will notfreeze at low temperatures and the pigment used in the liquid shouldimpart a color thereto that is suitable for the season. As an example,when snow covered territory is being flown over by the airplane, theliquid and floor 94 of this housing I2 carries spur 00.v

should be of a dark color, such as blue or black, but during the timewhen snow is not on the ground, the liquid should be white or a lightcolor so that trees or other vegetation may be coated with a coveringthat is relatively easy to detect.

Means for ejecting shell 8 is in the nature of a drum 84. which containscompressed air and .'.which may be filled with such air through the.medium .of a valve 88. The pressure within drum84 should be at least2,000 pounds per square inch, and the bottom wall 88 of drum 84' shouldbe relatively thin or have a thin portion through which spur 90 may passwhen the hereinafter described spur-actuating mechanism is brought intoplay.

Drum 84 rests upon partition 92 of housing I2 Spur 90 is reciprocablymounted and-maintained in a normal position by compression spring 88.

One end of stem 88 of spur 90 extends downward.- ly into tube I00wherein is reciprocably mounted an annularly grooved piston I82: Thispiston has a coil spring E04 in engagement with one end which tends toforce the piston against the end of stem 98. Afloose ball I08 extendsthrough opening I08 of tube I00 to lie in groove of the piston I02. Aspecially formed arm IIO having the domeshaped head I I2- on one endthereof, is supported by a universal joint II4. A weight H8 is on theother end thereof of arm H0 and a weight H8 is carried'by a laterallyextending portion I20. Portion I20 and arm IIO are disposed at rightangles to each other and a pair of springs I22 and I28 respectively,yieldably maintain the parts with tube 80 that terminatescan'ledbyuniversaljoint Il4inthenormalset position. The tension ofspring I24 may be varied through the use of a thumb nut and boltarrangement I28, to the end'that the jar which will release piston I82,may be predetermined. When the mechanism including arm III isconstructed and mounted as illustrated, the force or an impact in anydirection will disengage head I I2 from ball I88 ii'the tension ofsprings I22 and I24 is overcome. I

It is obvious to one skilled in the art that when the mechanism justdescribed is moved to release piston I82, spring I84 will force spur 88through wall 88 01' drum 84. A quick release of the compressed air indrum 84 will force shell 8 upwardly out oi' housing I2 with sumcientmomentum to lift the same an appreciable distance above the point ofrelease. In fact. the sudden opening of drum 84 is of explosiveproportions and projects shell I8 from housing I2 with great force. Asshell 8 passes through section I4 of housing I2, the gas from tank" willbe released and the air from tank 88 will escape through tube 88 becauseheads 22 and 24 will be moved inwardly by inclined wall I8.

As shell 8 rises, due to the force originallyexerted by piercing drum84, gas from tank 28 will enter balloon I8 and force it out of the upperend of the shell. When a sufllcient amount of gas has entered balloon I8to impart buoyancy thereto, it will suspend shell 8 and all containedparts abovethe ground.

Anchor 44 which has been unwinding cable 48 from spool 48, willautomatically engage a tree, bush or other thing on the ground topreclude objectionable floating away when balloon I8 is inflated.

During the time shell 8 was rising, ejector nozzle formed by the meetingof tube 88 and pipe 82 will force colored liquid 82 from reservoir 88 inthe form of a spray which will coat objects on the ground below theshell. Balloon I8 will become a marker for searchers, and if anchor 44has not satisfactorily engaged something to avoid floating, then thecolored liquid which has coated underlying objects, will become a trailby means of which the wreckage may be more easily located.

Obviously, the position indicator just described may bealteredconsiderably in form and nature without departing from the spiritof the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing;a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containingcolored liquid; means for forcing, the liquid from said reservoir in,theiorm of spray;-means for ejecting the shell from within the housing;and structure carried by the housing and said shell said reservoir inthe form of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing;and structure carried by the housing and said shell for renderingoperativethe said means for forcing the liquid from-thejreservoir as theshell is ejected from the housing, saidmeans for forcing the liquid fromthe reservoir comprising a tank of compressed air, means for releasingthe air from the able with the means for releasing the air from the tankas the shell is ejected from the housing.

3. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing;a projectable shell withinthe housing having a reservoir containingstructure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operativethe said means for forcing the iquid from the reservoir as the shell isejected from the housing, said means for forcing v the liquid from thereservoir comprisinga tank of compressed air, a punch to perforate thetank,

' a spring to withdraw the punch from the pering.

foration created in the tank thereby, an ejector nozzle in communicationwith the tank and said reservoir for withdrawing the liquid from thereservoir and directing it outwardly from the shell, and a part on thehousing engageable with the punch to force it into the tank as the shellis ejected from the housing.

4. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing;a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containingcolored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in theform of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; andstructure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operativethe said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir as the shell isejected from the housing, said means for forcing the liquid from thereservoir comprising partitions in the shell setting ofi a compartment,a tank of compressed air in the compartment, a punch extending into thecompartment and outwardly from the shell, a spring to yieldably hold thepunch in the normal position, an' ejector nozzle in connection with thecompartment and said reservoir for withdrawing the liquid from thereservoir-and directing it outwardly from the shell, and a part on thehousing engageable with the punch to force it into the tank toperforatethe same as the shell is ejected from the hous- 5. A position indicatorof the character described ,comprising a'housing; a projectable shellwithin the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; meansfor forcing the liquid from said reservoir in the form of spray; meansfor ejecting the shell from within the housing; and structure carried bythe housing and said shell for rendering operative the said means forforcing the liquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from thehousing, said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir comprisinga tank of compressed air, a punch to perforate the tank, a spring towithdraw the punch from the perforation created in the tank thereby, anejector nozzle in communication with the tank and said reservoir forwithdrawing the liquid from the reservoir and directing it outwardlyfrom the shell, and a part on the housing engageable with the punch toforce it into the tank as the shell is ejected from the housing, saidcompressed air tank having a partition therein to divide the same into ahigh pressure and a low pressure chamber, the wall of said low pressurechamber punch 6. A position indicator of the character describedcomprising a housing; a projectable shell within the housing having areservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid fromsaid reservoir in the form of spray; means for ejecting the shell fromwithin the housing; and

"structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operativethe said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir as the shell isejected from the housing, said means for ejecting the, shell from thehousing comprising a drum of compressed air in the housing between oneend of the latter and one end of the shell, a spur for puncturing thedrum, and mechanism including a weight for actuating the spur when thehousing is subjected to excessive jar.

7. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing;a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containingcolored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in theform of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; andstructure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operativethe said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir as the shell isejected from the housing, said means for forcing the liquid from thereservoir comprising partitions in the shell setting off a compartment,a

tank of compressed air in the compartment, a

punch extending into the compartment and outwardly from the shell, aspring to yieldably hold the punch in the normal position, an ejectornozzle in connection withthe compartment and said reservoir forwithdrawing the liquid from the reservoir and directing it outwardlyfrom the shell, and a part on the housing engageable with the punch toforce it into the tank to perforate the same as the shell is ejectedfrom the housing, said means for ejecting the shell from the housingcomprising a drum of compressed air in the housing between one end ofthe latter and one end of the shell, a spur on the housing forpuncturing the drum, and mechanism for actuating the spur when thehousing is subjected to excessive jar, the force exerted upon the shellby said ejecting means being sufiicient to move the shell out of thehousing and to force the punch through the wall of said compressed airtank.

8. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing;a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containingcolored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in theform of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing;

structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operativethe said means for forcing liquid from the reservoir as the shell isejected from the housing; a deflated balloon releasably disposed in theshell near one end thereof; a. tank of gas for inflating the balloon;and means for releasing the gas from the tank and into the balloon asthe shell is ejected from the housing.

9. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing;a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containingcolored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in theform of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing;structure carried by the housing and said means for forcing liquid fromthe reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing; a deflatedballoon releasably disposed in the shell near one end thereof a tank ofgas for inflating the balloon; and means for releasing the gas from thetank and into the balloon as the shell is ejected from the housing, saidtank oi gas for inflating the balloon being within the balloon andsecured to the shell whereby to support the latter in an elevatedposition above the ground alter the balloon is inflated. v

10. A position indicator of the character described comprising ahousing; a nrolectahle shell within the housing having a reservoircontaining colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from saidreservoir in the tom of spray; means for ejecting the shell from withinthe housing: structure carried by the housing and said shell forrendering operative the said means for forcing liquid from the reservoiras the shell is ejected from the housing; a deflated balloon releasablydisposed in the shell near one end thereof; a tank of gas for inflatingthe balloon; meansfor rea,1aa,uo

leasing the gas from the tank'and into the balmeans. for ejectinga'sheli from a housing upon subjecting the housing to excessive jar,mechanism for actuating the ejecting means comprising a reciprocableplunger; an arm in connection with the plunger; a imiversal jointsupporting the arm; and weights arranged on the arm to break itsconnection with the plunger when u the jar occurs.

' MILO F. MILLER.

